System and method for dynamic control of audio playback based on the position of a listener

ABSTRACT

An optimal listening position for the multi-channel audio sound system is determined. A listening area and other audio playback controls may also be defined or modified by a listener. During subsequent audio playback, an imager captures images of at least a portion of the listener. When the listener has moved to a position that is different from a previous position, one or more audio parameters are adjusted for at least one channel in the multi-channel audio system in order to reposition the initial or previous optimal listening position to the current position of the listener. When the listener moves outside the listening area, an out of bounds response is initiated to disable or control the audio playback until the listener moves to a position within the listening area.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/635,452, filed on Dec. 5, 2006, entitled “System and Method for Dynamic Control of Audio Playback Based on the Position of a Listener.”

BACKGROUND

Computer systems and other electronic devices are used for a variety of purposes. For example, a user can access the internet, create or edit videos of images, watch movies with a digital video disk (DVD) drive, and listen to music using the DVD or compact disc (CD) drives. Some of the applications use a multi-channel audio system to generate audio playback, such as with stereo or surround sound.

Typically, a user or listener must tune or calibrate the multi-channel audio system to determine an optimal listening position where the best sound presentation can be heard. Calibration of the audio system is based on the locations of the speakers and the equalizer and balance control settings. Once determined, the optimal listening position does not change unless the listener re-calibrates the audio system for a different optimal listening position.

When using computer systems and other audio systems, listeners can perform multiple tasks during audio playback that result in the listener moving away from the optimal listening position. The quality of the audio playback is then reduced and the listening experience diminished for the listener when the listener is located in a position different from the optimal listening position. Thus, a fixed optimal listening position limits the enjoyment a listener can receive from a multi-channel audio system.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the invention, a system and method for dynamic control of audio playback based on the position of a listener are provided. Initially an optimal listening position for the multi-channel audio sound system is determined. A listening area and other audio playback controls may also be defined or modified by a listener. During subsequent audio playback, an imager captures images of at least a portion of the listener. When the listener has moved to a position that is different from a previous position, one or more audio parameters are adjusted for at least one channel in the multi-channel audio system in order to reposition the initial or previous optimal listening position to the current position of the listener. When the listener moves outside the listening area, an out of bounds response is initiated to disable or control the audio playback until the listener moves to a position within the listening area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphic illustration of a computer system in an embodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for dynamic control of audio playback based on the position of a listener in an embodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method that can be used to perform block 200 shown in FIG. 2 in an embodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a graphic illustration of a user interface that can be used to perform blocks 302, 304, and 306 shown in FIG. 3 in an embodiment in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a multi-channel audio system that can be used to dynamically control the audio playback based on the position of a listener in an embodiment in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable embodiments of the invention to be made and used, and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the appended claims. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a graphic illustration of a computer system in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. Computer system 100 includes computer 102, monitor 104, keyboard 106, imager 108, and input device 109, shown here as a mouse. Imager 108 is built into the enclosure of monitor 104 and is therefore shown in phantom in FIG. 1. Imager 108 is implemented, for example, as a camera or web cam in an embodiment in accordance with the invention.

In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, imager 108 is a separate discrete device positioned on top of monitor 104. When imager 108 is a separate, discrete device, imager 108 may be connected to computer 102 using any known type of connection, such as a Firewire or Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. And in yet another embodiment in accordance with the invention, imager 108 is a separate, discrete device that is positioned independent of computer system 100 and able to capture images of the head or body of listener 110. By way of example only, imager 108 may be affixed to a wall located on a side, in front of, or behind computer system 100. The images captured by imager 108 are then transmitted to computer 102 via a wired or wireless connection.

Listener 110 may be seated in front of or near monitor 104, standing in front of or near monitor 104, moving around computer system 100, or moving around a given area such as, for example, a room. Speakers 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 are connected to computer 102 using a wired or wireless connection. The connections between speakers 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 and computer 102 are omitted from FIG. 1 for clarity. Computer 102 provides listener 110 with multi-channel audio playback using speakers 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. Embodiments in accordance with the invention, however, are not limited to the number and configuration of speakers 112, 114, 116, 118, 120. Two or more speakers can be used to provide multi-channel audio playback in other embodiments in accordance with the invention.

Additionally, embodiments in accordance with the invention are not limited to use in a computer system. Other types of audio systems can be use to implement embodiments in accordance with the invention. For example, other types of audio systems include, but are not limited to, television or home theater systems and audio CD and DVD systems.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a flowchart of a method for dynamic control of audio playback based on the position of a listener in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. Initially a person or system performs an initial set up, as shown in block 200. An exemplary initial set up is discussed in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 3.

A determination is then made at block 202 as to whether the imaging module is turned on and the listener will be using an application or feature that plays audio. If so, a determination is made as to whether the listener has enabled dynamic control of the audio playback (block 204). When the listener has enabled dynamic control of the audio playback, the position of the listener is tracked at block 206.

The position of the listener can be tracked using any one of a variety of techniques. The position of the listener is tracked in real-time by tracking the head or face of the listener using facial recognition software in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, the position of the listener is tracked by detecting the location of one or both eyes of the listener. For example, one or both eyes of the listener may be tracked with the eye detection system disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication 2005/0133693A1.

A determination is then made at block 208 as to whether the listener or a portion of interest of the listener has moved. By way of example only, a portion of interest is the face or eyes of a listener. If the listener has not moved, the method waits until the listener moves. When the listener or a portion of interest of the listener has moved, a determination is made at block 210 as to whether the listener has disabled the dynamic control of the audio playback.

Dynamic control of the audio playback is disabled when any one of a number of possible actions are taken by the listener in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. For example, dynamic control of the audio playback is disabled when the listener stops audio playback in one embodiment in accordance with the invention. In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, dynamic control of the audio playback is disabled when the listener disables a software program that implements dynamic control of audio playback.

The method passes to block 212 when the listener has not disabled dynamic control of the audio playback. At block 212 a determination is made as to whether the listener or the head of the listener has moved out of the listening area or “out of bounds.” The listening area is defined by the listener during the initial set up in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. The listening area can assume any given dimensions, such as, for example, the area in front of the imaging module, a portion of a room, or an entire room. In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, the listening area is programmed by the manufacturer of the computer or the audio system. The manufacturer may then allow a user to modify one or more dimensions of the listening area.

If the listener has moved out of bounds, the system initiates the out of bounds response at block 214. The out of bounds response is selected by the listener during the initial set up in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. In other embodiments in accordance with the invention, the out of bounds response is established by the manufacturer of the computer or the audio system. The manufacturer may then allow a user to change the default out of bounds response.

A determination is then made at block 216 as to whether the listener has moved back in bounds or into the listening area. If not, the method waits until the listener moves back in bounds in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. The method passes to block 218 when the listener moves back in bounds. One or more audio parameters for one or more channels are then adjusted based on the current position of the listener. For example, in a surround sound audio system, one or more parameters for at least one of the five channels are adjusted.

Tracking of the head, eyes, or face of the listener at block 206 includes determining the location and the orientation of the head, eyes, or face in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. This allows the dynamic adjustments of the audio parameters to adjust for both the current location and the current orientation of the listener. Audio parameters that may be adjusted include, but are not limited to, volume, left/right head orientation, and up/down head orientation, equalizer, and balance. The adjustments to the one or more audio parameters for at least one channel reposition the initial or previous optimal listening position to the current position of the listener.

Returning again to block 212, the method passes to block 218 when the listener has moved but remained in bounds. One or more audio parameters are then adjusted based on the position of the listener. The method then returns to block 206 and repeats until the listener disables the dynamic control of the audio playback.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method that can be used to perform block 200 shown in FIG. 2 in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. Initially the audio system is tuned or calibrated for the optimal listening position, as shown in block 300. For example, the audio system is calibrated to determine an initial “sweet spot” or location where the best soundstage presentation can be heard. The sweet spot is a position equidistant from the speakers in one embodiment in accordance with the invention. The sweet spot typically can be shaped to the size and layout of a room when the audio system includes multiple speakers, such as the multiple speakers used in a surround sound system.

The listening area is then defined at block 302. Next, at block 304, the listener specifies the out of bound response. The defined listening area and the specified out of bounds response are used in blocks 212 and 214 of FIG. 2, respectively.

Finally, other playback controls are specified at block 306. By way of example only, one other playback control set at block 306 is volume controls. The volume controls, if specified, can be used in block 218 of FIG. 2. For example, a listener may want to limit the volume adjustments within the listening area. The listener may want to specify a maximum loudness and a minimum softness the volume can reach within the listening area.

The listening area, the out of bounds response, and the other playback controls can be set using any one of a number of techniques. FIG. 4 is a graphic illustration of a user interface that can be used to perform blocks 302, 304, and 306 shown in FIG. 3 in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. User interface 400 includes the three playback controls of listening area 402, out of bounds response 404, and volume controls 406. The listening area is defined with dialog boxes 408, 410, 412. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the listener enters a distance measurement into each dialog box 408, 410, 412. Each distance measurement indicates the distance between the center of the optimal listening position and one edge of the listening area in one embodiment in accordance with the invention. In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, each distance measurement indicates the distance between the imaging module and one edge of the listening area.

For example, when the listening area is viewed as a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, the distance measurement (d₁) entered into dialog box 408 represents the distance between the center of the optimal listening position (e.g., 0, 0, 0) and the maximum distance in either the positive or negative direction along the z-axis (e.g., (0, 0, d₁) or (0, 0, −d₁)). The distance measurement (d₂) entered into dialog box 410 represents the distance between the center of the optimal listening position (e.g., 0, 0, 0) and the maximum distance in either the positive or negative direction along the x-axis (e.g., (d₂, 0, 0) or (−d₂, 0, 0)). Finally, the distance measurement (d₃) entered into dialog box 412 represents the distance between the center of the optimal listening position (e.g., 0, 0, 0) and the maximum distance in either the positive or negative direction along the y-axis (e.g., (0, d₃, 0) or (0, −d₃, 0)).

Pull-down menu 414 allows a listener to select one of several options for the out of bounds response. The out of bounds response includes, but is not limited to, turning off the audio playback, turning off the computer, reducing the sound level to a low level, and leaving the sound level at its current level for a given period of time and then reducing the sound level to a low level or off. Additional or different out of bounds responses can be employed in other embodiments in accordance with the invention.

Maximum volume 416 and minimum volume 418 allow a listener to set the maximum and minimum sound levels for the audio playback. When the listener moves around within the listening area, the sound level is adjusted accordingly so the listener is positioned at an optimal listening position. Thus, as the listener moves away from the original optimal listening position farther from the computer, the sound level increases until, if necessary, the maximum sound level is output. Similarly, as the listener moves away from the original optimal listening position towards the computer, the sound level decreases until, if necessary, the minimum sound level is output.

Embodiments in accordance with the invention are not limited to the user interface and the features shown in FIG. 4. Other embodiments in accordance with the invention can employ different techniques to allow a listener to customize his or her listening experience. By way of example only, sliding controls, graphical representations of a room or listening area with user-controlled speaker placement and listening area boundary placements, and other user-selected playback controls can be included in other embodiments in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a block diagram of a multi-channel audio system that can be used to dynamically control the audio playback based on the position of a listener in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. System 500 includes an imaging module 502, image processor 504, and audio processing module 506. Audio input device 508 inputs audio signals into system 500. Audio input device 508 is implemented as a digital video disk (DVD) drive in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. The audio is temporarily buffered in audio buffer 510 before being received by audio processor 512.

Imager 514 captures images of a listener or of a listening area. The images are temporarily buffered in image buffer 516 before being received by image processor 504. Image processor 504 executes a program that determines the position of the listener with respect to the imager in an embodiment in accordance with the invention.

Whether the listener has moved from a previous position is determined in a two step process in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. During the initial set up the optimal listening position with respect to imager 514 is determined and stored in memory 520. The optimal listening position can be determined, for example, by displaying a user interface as shown in FIG. 4 on display 522 and using input device 524 to enter data into the user interface. Input device 524 is implemented as a mouse in an embodiment in accordance with the invention.

During subsequent audio playback, image processor 504 determines the current position of the listener with respect to the imager and stores that determination in memory 520 in an embodiment in accordance with the invention. Controller 518 compares the current position of the listener with the optimal listening position. When the two positions differ, controller 518 generates an adjustment signal that represents the difference between the optimal listening position and the position of the listener.

Audio processor 512 receives the adjustment signal and executes one or more programs that dynamically adjust one or more audio parameters for at least one channel in the multi-channel audio playback. The adjustments to the at least one channel repositions the initial or previous optimal listening position to the current position of the listener. Audio processor 512 then transmits the audio signals to audio output 526. Audio output 526 is implemented as a compression/decompression (codec) component, a sound mixer component, and a sound card in an embodiment in accordance with the invention.

Audio output 526 transmits the audio signals to speakers 528, 530 via connections 532, 534, respectively. Ellipses 536 indicate additional speakers can be included in system 500. For example, with surround sound audio playback, five speakers can be employed in system 500. The five speakers can be configured as a right front speaker, a left front speaker, a rear right speaker, a rear left speaker, and a center speaker typically implemented as a sub-woofer.

Image processor 504, audio processor 512, and controller 518 may be implemented as two or more discrete components or as one single component. For example, image processor 504 and controller 518 may be one processor and audio processor 512 as a separate processor. Additionally, buffers 510, 516, and memory 520 may be implemented as two or more discrete components or as one single component. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer system with a multi-channel audio system that dynamically adjusts audio playback based on a changeable position of a listener, the system comprising: an input device operable to receive initial set up data that comprises a definition of a listening area within a room; a sensor operable to sense the position of the listener as the listener moves about the room; a processing module operable to determine, automatically, an original optimal listening position for the multi-channel audio system, based on the definition of the listening area, determine using the sensor whether the listener has a current position that is different from the original optimal listening position, generate an adjustment signal when it is determined that the current position of the listener in the listening area is different from the original optimal listening position, and determine using the sensor whether the listener is within the listening area and trigger an out of bounds response when it is determined that the listener is not within the listening area; and an audio processing module, coupled to the processing module, operable to receive the adjustment signal and responsively adjust one or more audio parameters for one or more channels and produce an audio signal for each channel in the multi-channel audio system such that the original optimal listening position is repositioned in accordance with the current position of the listener.
 2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of speakers, wherein each speaker is coupled to the audio processing module and operable to receive a respective audio signal.
 3. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising an audio input device coupled to the audio processing module and operable to input a plurality of input audio signals into the audio processing module.
 4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a camera.
 5. The computer system of claim 2, further comprising a display coupled to the processing module.
 6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the input device receives the initial set up data via manipulation of a graphical representation of the room and the plurality of speakers presented on the display.
 7. A computer system with a multi-channel audio sound system that dynamically adjusts audio playback based on a changeable position of a listener, the system comprising: an input device operable to receive initial set up data that comprises dimensions of a listening area in a room; a sensor operable to sense the position of a portion of a listener as the listener moves about the room; a controller, coupled to the input device and the sensor, operable to determine automatically an original optimal listening position for the multi-channel audio system, based on the dimensions of the listening area, and generate an adjustment signal when it is determined that a current position of the listener in the listening area is different from a previous position of the listener, and determine whether the current position of the listener is or is not within the listening area and trigger an out of bounds response if it is determined that the listener is not within the listening area; and an audio processor, coupled to the controller, operable to receive the adjustment signal from the controller and in response access the original optimal listening position stored in memory and adjust one or more audio parameters for one or more channels of the multi-channel audio system so as to produce an audio signal for each channel in the multi-channel audio system such that the original optimal listening position is repositioned to the current position of the listener.
 8. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of speakers, wherein each speaker is coupled to the audio processor and each speaker is operable to receive a respective audio signal.
 9. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising an audio input device, coupled to the audio processor and operable to input a plurality of audio signals into the audio processor.
 10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is a camera.
 11. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising a display coupled to the controller.
 12. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the audio processor and the controller comprise a single processor.
 13. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the audio processor and the controller comprise two or more processors.
 14. A method for dynamic control of audio playback in a computer system having a multi-channel audio system based on a changeable position of a listener, the method comprising: receiving initial set up data that comprises a definition of a listening area within a room; determining, automatically, an original optimal listening position in the listening area for the multi-channel audio system, based on the definition of the listening area; sensing data related to the changeable position of the listener as the listener moves about the room; determining, using a sensor, that a current position of the listener is different from the original optimal listening position using the sensed data; when the determined current position of the listener is in the listening room but different from the original optimal listening position, adjusting one or more audio parameters for one or more channels in the multi-channel audio sound system to reposition the optimal listening position to the current position of the listener in the listening room; and determining, using the sensor, that the listener has moved out of the listening area and in response initiating an out of bound response.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving initial set up data comprises: displaying, on a display coupled to the computer system, a graphical representation of the room, and providing, by manipulation of the graphical representation of the room, the definition of the listening area.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: setting one or more playback controls that limit an adjustment for at least one audio parameter.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining whether dynamic control of audio playback is enabled.
 18. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining whether the listener has moved to a position within the listening area subsequent to the listener moving out of the listening area.
 19. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the out of bounds response comprises at least one of: disabling the multi-channel audio system; disabling the computer system; and reducing a master volume level to a low level.
 20. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the input device comprises a switch that the listener can activate to enable or disable the dynamic audio playback.
 21. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the dimensions of the listening area are stored in memory.
 22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the controller is further operable to: access the dimensions of the listening area stored in the memory.
 23. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the out of bounds response comprises at least one of: disabling the multi-channel audio system; disabling the computer system; and reducing a master volume level to a low level. 